Electrically operated game apparatus



Feb. 4, 1936.

J. M. PREN'AI'ICE ELECTRIGALLY OPERATED GAME APPARATUS Filed Feb. l, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheetl 0 G. m W

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INI/ENTOR, Jamas M Prelzz',

ATTORNEY.

Feb. 4, 1936. J- M PREN'nCE 2,029,834

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED GAME APPARATUS Filed Feb, 1, 1930 s sheets-sheet 2 @Se Eh *R 1 j *Y w s W i u; w w m *qw a a *D w m w g w w u w m w -1 YQ a u k1 w *n u x *i w w u w b E @NwmwN-w E R\ N N` n Q L zwi 2f?? s* NQ JNVENTOR, Jamas/Mefzz'e, @f @nu `4/U. wv.

W ATTORNEY.

Feb. 4, 1936. J. M. PRENTlcr-z ELECTRICALLY OPERATED GAME APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 1, 1930 INVENTOR, vhf/zes M Pfefzzc@ A TTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 4, 1936 UNITED STATS `ATENT OFFICE ELECTRICALLY OPERATED GAME APPARATUS Application February 1, 1930, Serial No. 425,138

10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in an electrically operated game apparatus and more particularly to a miniature apparatus for playing the game of football. 'I'he present invention embodies the main idea shown and described in my prior United States Letters Patent, No. 1,694,721 dated December l1, 1928, relating to the game of baseball in which the movements of the two persons, as offense and defense players, who are playing the game, are concealed from each other by suitable shields at the end of the game board, sol that the game, as played, is not one of luck, but is based on the skill of the players.

A board, simulating a football eld, is provided for indicating thereon the diierent plays. A series of electric bulbs are employed, some of which will glow when the two players press electrical contacts at the same time, which contacts are located at the opposite ends of the board. These contacts, when pressed at the same time, will indicate a play by the glowing of `a certain lamp. The intended plays, both oiensive and defensive, can be made secretly by means of the shield devices for preventing the movements of each player, as he presses a key, from being `disclosed to his opponent. A colored bulb is also employed for indicating that the two players have simultaneously pressed a contact. The colored bulb further is employed to indicate the results of certain plays, when the other bulbs do not glow, as will be fully described.

An object of the invention is to provide an electrical game apparatus in which the element of luck, to a large extent, is removed. The game is designed to be played in accordance with the intercollegiate rules for football.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the eld of play with the spaced five yard lines from to 100, the goal posts, end zones, the plays, the electrical connections between the contacts and electric lamps. The numbering of the lines from 0. to 100 is for convenience in playing the game. The series of electrical contacts of each player are preferably numbered from 1 to 6, the play indicating bulbs are designated consecutively with letters from A to M, one of the bulbs, G being colored a suitable color, as red, which always glows, as stated, when any two of the end contacts are closed by the two players at the same time. An accompanying chart having thereon the two sets of contact numbers from 1 to 6 arranged horizontally and vertically, the intersecting lines from which numbered contacts form squares in which are placed the letters from A to M. 'Ihe letter in the square will indicate which lamp will glow, when any two contacts, indicated by the numbers of the intersecting horizontally and vertically arranged numbers are simultaneously pressed. These numbers designate two series of electrical contacts from 1 to 6 which are located at opposite ends of the board. When one contact at each end is pressed at the same time, the colored bulb will glow and also one of the others, if certain plays are executed, otherwise, only the colored bulb, as will be described.

Referring toy the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan View of the game board showing a football eld, the series of numbered electric contacts at its opposite ends, some of the different plays and the series of electric bulbs.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 2--2 of Fig.v 1 illustrating the electric circuits, the end shields at the opposite ends of the board and the insulated Contact buttons.

Fig. 3 is a chart indicating the series of numbered contacts at the opposite ends of the board and arranged in horizontal and vertical lines and the squares formed by the intersecting lines and having a designated lamp in each of the squares.

Fig. 4 is a diagram of the electric circuits, and

Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of a football and plate for indicating the movements of the plays on the board with reference to the yard lines.

Referring to the drawings in detail: I designates the game board having indicated thereon the football field 2, with the ruled 5 yard lines 3 numbered from O to 100, for convenience in playing the game, as this is not the regulation layout of the yard lines. 4 indicates the two end zones; 5 and E, the goal posts. Located on the board I is a listing of some of the plays of the game, indicated by the reference numerals l. These plays are indicated in columns 8, 9, It! and Ill', under the word plays. The intersecting horizontal lines II and Vertical lines EI form rectangular spaces I2 in which the names of the plays are entered, as shown.

Arranged adjacent the word plays and along one side of the board are a series of squares I3 in which are placed the bulbs or electric lamps I4 that are designated with the capital letters A to M inclusive. The bulb at G is shown as being colored red, although any other suitable color may be used.

In the squares of the vertical columns under these capital letters are placed different yard distances and other play terms, except in column I, when different plays are noted, as shown.

Located at each end of the board I, is a series of electric switches or'buttons I5 and I5, each of which series are consecutively numbered from 1 to 6, as indicated at I1 and I8, the numbers reading in opposite directions, for convenience of the two opposing players. These buttons are concealed behind the shields 48 and 49 which are removably retained in place by means of the right angular spring clips 48 and 49'. The buttons are mounted on the uppermost of the leaf springs I9 and 20.

Located directly below each one of the upper leaf springs I9 are the metallic leaf springs 2I and the longer leaf 22 below buton numbered 2 (see Figs. 2 and 4). These leaf springs are insulated from each other, as indicated, with the layers 23 of paper or other suitable material. The springs and insulation material are secured together and to the baseboard 24 with the rivets 25. Located directly below each of the upper leaf springs 20 at the right hand end of the board, are the metallic leaf springs 26, 21 and 2,8, which are insulated from each other, as shown, with the strips 29 of paper or other suitable material, and the whole is then secured together and toI the base .24 with the rivets 39. The battery is indicated at 3I, the terminals 33 and 34 of which are connected to the wires 35 and 36. Wire 35 is connected to the metallic strip or bus bar 31 which is located below the six electric Contact buttons or keys I5 on the spring strips I9. 'Ihe wire 36 is connected to the other metallic bus bar or strip 38 which is located below the other contact buttons or keys I6. A circuit connection, with two of the keys, I5 and I6 when simultaneously pressed, is as followsz-wire 35, key No. 1 of leaf spring strips I9, bus wire 39, which is connected to all of the leaf springs I9, red lamp G, bus Wire 40, which is connected to all of the leaf spring strips 20, key No. l, at the right hand end. bus strip 38 and wire 35 to the other terminal of the battery 3l. It should be stated that one of the contact keys I5 and I5 must be pressed at the same time to close the circuit. Only the lamp G glows, when the two buttons each numbered 1 are pressed.

Referring-'to the chart shown in Fig. 3, it will be seen that with the pressing of the two keys, 1, l, the light G will glow, as stated. At the left hand end of the game board, there are shown two metallic strips I9 and 2l with the exception of key No. 2, where there are three, the third or lower one being designated 22, as stated, and show in Figs. 2 and 4. The additional strip 22 is a special circuit for lamp C. At the right hand end, there are four metallic strips, as stated, for each one of the keys IB and indicated at 29, 23, 21 and 28.

Referring again to the chart in Fig. 3 and assuming that the player at the right has the kick off after the tossing of a coin, the piece 41 is placed on his 40 yd. line. In playing the game, it is assumed that the usual official rules of the game are followed or employed. Assume, for instance, that a touch down has been scored by the right hand end. He then mentions to his opponent that he tries a running play". He presses, say contact No. 6. The left hand player at the same time presses contact No. 3. Reference to the chart Fig. 3, indicates that bulb D should glow. Under bulb D, on the horizontal running play, line is shown 2 yds. That is to say, the player at the right hand has made a gain of 2 yds. Bulb G also glows, but the reading 0 yds. under this bulb is not now used, butonly the reading under uncolored bulb D.

It should be stated that the reading under bulb G is not used, when any one of the othernon-colored lettered bulbs glow upon the simultaneous closure of a contact by a player, at each end ofthe board. The bulb G always glows when an;7 of the `other bulbs glow. This bulb, being colored, indicates at all times that a contact at the opposite end of the board is being simultaneously closed. The play under this colored bulb is used, only when this bulb glows, as for example. Assume that the right hand player tries a forward pass. I-le presses button numbered 4 and the left hand player presses button numbered 3. Bulb G only glows, as shown by the chart. Opposite forward pass, occurs grounded, under bulb G. This shows that the ball is grounded.

Another important feature of the colored bulb is to indicate that both players simultaneously must press a button. disagreement might possibly arise that each player would say he pressed a button, but the glowing of bulb G would avoid such a possible controversy, since it always glows, as stated.

The circuit, when only the bulb G glows, as

when contacts 3 and 4 are simultaneously closed is: wire 35, strip 31, contact 3, wire 39, bulb G, wire 4I), contact 4, strip 38, wire 35 to the other pole of the battery. There is no circuit through bulb D from contact 3, since wire I3 is an open Q circuit at contact 6 at the right hand end.

The bulb G, therefore, has two functions: First, that a contact I5 and I5 at each end of the board l must be simultaneously closed to indicate such operation of the players, and

Second: to indicate plays, when only this bulb glows. This bulb may be of any suitable color, other than red. The circuit through bulb D, when contacts 3 and 6 are closed, is as follows: wire 35, bar 31, wire 42, bulb D, wire 33. contact strip 28, bar 38, wire 36V to the other pole of the battery. In this way, the different circuits of the plays may be traced.

It is not deemed necessary for an understanding of the apparatus to set forth in detail the complete description of the different plays by moving the piece 41 over ruled yard lines of the game board, as it would only render the specification prolix and unnecessary.

As for example, the position of the marker piece 41 on the 40 yard line indicates the kick off of the player at the right. The position 41' would indicate the position of the ball, after the kick off and at the start of the first down.

What I claim is:

l. In an electrically operated football game, comprising, a board member, a eld of play indicated thereon, intersecting lines on the board member forming spaces, the plays of the game being indicated in the said spaces, the spaces being arranged in groups and each group being designated by a letter or other character, a series of numbered contacts at each end of the said board for each player, electrical means adjacent the group character for indicating a play or plays of both designated group when any one contact of both of said series is operated simultaneously, an accompanying reference chart having said designated group characters thereon corresponding for each play of a group to be made and having numerals corresponding to said series of numbered contacts, means on the board for concealing Vor shielding the nurnbered contacts from each. player, and electrical connections be- If no bulb glows, then a tween the numbered contacts and the group indicating means.

2. A football game apparatus comprising a game board, a football field indicated thereon, plays of the game indicated thereon, means comprising a series of electrical devices for indicating the plays, when made, numbered electrical contacts at the ends of the game board for operating the said series, one of the said series of electrical devices being of a different nature, as a colored electrical bulb, which is always operated when a contact of each numbered series is simultaneously operated, the said different electrical device only being used to indicate plays when it alone is operated, but the other electrical devices are used only to indicate a play when they are operated with the said different electrical device, a source of electrical energy, electrical connections with the source of electrical energy, the electrical devices and the contacts, and means for shielding the electrical contacts at the end of the game board from each player, and an accompanying chart for disclosing which numbered end contacts are to be actuated for predetermining a certain play, as described.

3. In an electrically operated football game comprising a game board, a eld of play thereon, plays shown thereon, a plurality of a series of electrical contacts, leaf springs at each end of the game board carrying the said contacts, a bus bar for each series of contacts, a battery, a connection from each terminal of the battery connected to the said bus bars, a colored electrical bulb, a. connection between the colored bulb and all of the leaf spring contacts in the series of each plurality of series of contacts for closing the current to the colored bulb when a single contact of each series oi contacts are simutaneously operated to indicate a play, as clescribed.

4. In a football game apparatus, a game board, a field of play of the game shown thereon and arranged in groups, the game board having the diierent plays of the game indicated thereon, the board having marked olf spaces thereon, the plays being arranged in groups and indicated in the marked-off spaces thereon, electrical devices each designating one group of plays of the game in a series of said spaces, a source of electrical energy, two series of contacts, connections between the electrical devices and the said series of contacts which are located respectively at the opposite ends of the game board for closing the circuit to the electrical devices when any two of the series of contacts are simultaneously operated at the opposite ends, and a chart for indicating which one of the group electrical devices will be operated when two of the said series of contacts are closed, as described.

5. In an electrically operated foot ball game apparatus, a game board having a simulated eld of play thereon over which a game piece may be moved to indicate the progress of the game, spaces formed on the game board, designations in said spaces indicating plays of the game and arranged in groups, each group of plays being designated by a character, two electrically operated devices that are simultaneously operated for visibly indicating the plays in said groups, two series of numbered contacts for operating the said devices, one of said devices being always operated when a numbered contact of each series is simultaneously operated, and another ofthe devices will be operated at the same time when the same contact of each series is simultaneously operated, depending upon the closure of certain of said contacts, as described.

6. In an electrically operated foot ball game apparatus, a game board having a field of play simulated thereon and having the different plays indicated thereon in groups, a series of spaces formed on the game board in which spaces the designations of the plays are inserted to form said groups, each group of plays being designated by a character, a source of electrical energy, a series of numbered contacts for each player, a plurality of electrical devices for designating the groups of plays, when a contact of each numbered series is simultaneously closed, electrical connections between the source of energy and the electrical devices, one of the electrical designating devices only being operated when a contact of each series is operated and the said one device being also operated when a certain other contact of each contact series is operated, and an accompanying chart bearing numbers corresponding to the numbers of the electrical contacts and the chart having spaces in which the groups are indicated that correspond with the electrical designating devices which are operated on the game board when said contacts are operated 7. A football game comprising a game board having a simulated field, the plays of the game being designated on the game board and arranged in groups thereon, means comprising a series of electrical devices requiring the simultaneous operation of two players for visibly indicating a designated group of plays when made, numbered contacts for operating the said series, one of the said series of visible designating devices being of a different nature, as a colored electrical bulb, which is always operated, when a contact of each series is simultaneously operated, the said different device only being used to indicate a play, when it alone is operated by the two players, but the other devices are used only to indicate a play when they are 4operated with the said diierent device, electrical connections with a source of energy, the devices and the contacts, and means for shielding the contacts from each player.

8. A football game comprising a game board having a simulated field of plays over which a game piece may be moved to indicate the progress of the game, spaces formed on the game board, designations in said spaces indicating plays of the game, and arranged in groups, each group of plays being designated by a character, the diagram of the said field being located adjacent the groups of indicated plays, a movable piece designed to be used on the field diagram to agree with the plays made, means, when sumultaneously operated by two players, for visibly indicating a designated group of the plays, and means for electrically connecting the said operated means by the two players.

9. A foot ball game comprising a game board the plays of the same being indicated and arranged in groups on the board, a diagram of the field of play on the board adjacent the groups of indicated plays, a piece movable .on the eld, numbered electrical contacts at each end of the board, a lamp adjacent each group of plays, connections from each contact to each of said lamps whereby when two of said end contacts are simultaneously operated by two players, a lamp will visibly indicate a single group of plays .which agrees with the chart, as described.

of plays being designated by a character; means requiring the simultaneous operation by two players for visibly indicating a designated group of plays, and means for electrically connecting the said means operated by the two players.

JAMES M. PRENTICE. 

